Communities value annual fireworks displays (with video)

For many, the tradition of celebrating Independence Day includes time with family, food and fireworks.

Big, colorful displays draw crowds of thousands to ooh and aah under a clear night sky on a blanket or lawn chair.

The memories are profound and are hoped to continue generation after generation, said Mentor resident Steve Drapp.

"I remember as a kid, myself always getting together with my parents, sister, cousins and other family to all sit and watch the fireworks. I consider myself to be a patriotic person and feel that the fireworks are (the United States') way of showing and celebrating our independence..." he wrote in an email.

Mentor always has fireworks, said City Manager Kenneth J. Filipiak when asked about funding the tradition. The city spends about $25,000 for the display it puts on every year.

"I think the value of that is it's an opportunity for us to celebrate the birth of the nation and communities like Mentor still believe that that's something very much worth celebrating," Filipiak said.

Not all cities are able to keep up with the cost of fireworks, which locally ranges from $12,000 to $100,000.

Euclid used to put on a show that brought in a few thousand people, said Mayor Bill Cervenik.

The show was last held in 2008 when the city finances were hit hard.

"I had to eliminate a significant number of (positions) here ... and it just didn't feel good to recommend to council to blow $100,000 (on fireworks)," he said. "It wasn't an easy decision. We had thousands upon thousands of people coming to Euclid. We were known outside of Edgewater as one of the largest shows."

The fireworks display brought the community together, Cervenik said, noting that families still get together and enjoy the holiday, and they have other options to go see fireworks in nearby cities.

Although he has received several calls asking about fireworks, they aren't likely to come back to Euclid any time soon.

"We took tremendous hits from the state and we're just starting to make that up," he said.

Eastlake did not have a fireworks show this year because of budget constraints.

The city used to put on its own show, but because of a lack of funds it sought a partnership to continue the tradition.

The city joined forces with the Lake County Captains for the past few years to share the cost, but this year the baseball team said it was too much.

The past few years, the city and the Captains had each pitched in for the show. This year the city was unable to do so, but offered to charge a small fee for parking, which would be given to the Captains, said Eastlake Mayor Ted Andrzejewski said.

"I would love to have fireworks," he said. "Do you spend the money on services or fireworks? One-day event for 20 minutes, and you look at, OK we could buy playground equipment or we could employ summer help ... it's a tough one."

The cost to the city when it put on the show independently was between $12,000 and $15,000, Andrzejewski said.

Captains General Manager Brad Seymour said the total cost to host the event at the stadium topped off about $20,000.

Both sides said they hope the show can go on in the future.

Eastlake resident Mary Garty said she would hate to see the show canceled.

"(The Fourth) of July is my favorite holiday and I never miss fireworks. I'm 70 years old and they still excite me the same as when I was a child," she wrote in an email.

A group in Chardon took responsibility of raising funds for fireworks in 1993 when the city stopped hosting them.

Now, the city donates $2,500 toward the fireworks and supplies police and other support at a cost of about $3,000 to $3,500, said City Manager Randal B. Sharpe.

The independent group, Chardon Area Fireworks Fund, raises money from local businesses and individuals to support the $10,000 budget for the show.

The total costs end up at about $13,000 with insurance factored in, said Fund Trustee Dave Jevnikar.

"The main thing we focus on is we have the memories of when we were young and we like to make memories for our young community folks now," he said. "It's a great event and everybody's gone to fireworks over the years and it's a great time."

Willoughby's fireworks have been going strong for at least 50 years, said Judean Banker, director of parks and recreation.

That city spends on average $24,000 for its show.

The tradition of fireworks on Independence Day is one that many cities hope to keep alive, but the reality is that it's expensive and officials sometimes have to make the call to do without.

"Doing away with (fireworks) because of cost would be sad," Drapp said. "Sometimes it's not about what we do, but creating the memory of doing it. I hope that some day my two young boys, Kyle and Braden look back on the memory of watching (Fourth) of July fireworks with my wife and I as a fun time."